The tablecloth inertia trick is a well-known physics demonstration that illustrates Newton's First Law of Motion — the concept of inertia. In this demonstration, a tablecloth is swiftly pulled out from beneath dishes or other items placed on a table. Due to inertia, the objects resist changes to their state of rest and mostly stay in place as the cloth is removed. The trick is most effective when the pull is quick, smooth, and horizontal, reducing the amount of force transferred to the objects.